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JAMES Milner is confident the big four domination of the Barclays Premier League can be broken and he believes Aston Villa have as good a chance as anyone of being the club who can join the elite.

Milner became the latest young English player of budding potential to join Martin O'Neill's revolution at Villa when he made the £12million switch from Newcastle a fortnight ago, shortly before the transfer window closed.

The 22-year-old could make his first start in the Monday evening clash at Tottenham since spending the entire 2005-2006 campaign on loan at Villa under the then manager David O'Leary.

And Milner recognises the vast strides Villa have made since his initial spell as they look to improve on finishing sixth last season and qualifying for the UEFA Cup via the Intertoto Cup.

The England Under-21 player told PA Sport: "The top four is tough to get into but a club will get in there at some point. It can't stay the way it is forever and Villa are in as good a position as anyone to challenge that.

"I can really see how far Villa have come since I was last here and each year they have got better and better. They have got some of the best young talent in the country here as well as some experienced players.

"You only have to look at the first game of my two spells here. Three years ago we were beaten 4-0 at West Ham on my debut. This time we drew at home with a top four club in Liverpool and it could have been better. The lads were disappointed not to get three points.

"That in itself showed how far Villa have come since I was last here. It is very exciting times at the club and hopefully we can keep improving year upon year and improving means forcing our way into that top four.

"As long as we keep learning, and moving forward as a club, and everything seems to be moving in the the right direction, then we will have a chance of doing that.

"Villa have had a couple of good seasons since I left and are gradually building a great squad. The club is on the up and it is an exciting place to be.

"There is also a new training ground, which is fantastic and the attention to detail is great, the preparation going into the games."

Milner's optimistic vibes about Villa's future are in stark contrast to the disappointment he felt two years ago when a permanent move was scuppered by Newcastle at the 11th hour.

The ex-Leeds player said: "That was a really tough time for me and for Villa as well. It obviously threw their plans into turmoil.

"The fee was all agreed and I came down here to the Villa training ground, got into the manager's office and then he said he had received a phone call to say Newcastle had changed their mind.

"At first I didn't know if it was the manager's humour and whether he was joking with me - but it wasn't a joke. The best way I know is to get my head down and work hard. I went back to Newcastle and did as well as I could.

"What happened two years ago is now in the past and it is how you react to those sort of things. You learn from that and you move on and, two years later, I am sure I am a stronger character and a better player for those experiences."

O'Neill looks likely to be again without midfielder Steve Sidwell after he suffered a knee injury but defender Carlos Cuellar, signed from Rangers for £7.8million, could come into the equation after coming through two reserve games following a calf problem."

He will be hoping his side show more ruthlessness than last season when Villa held a 4-1 lead at White Hart Lane only for the game to end in a 4-4 draw.